Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn insists he has ‘the utmost respect’ for Barcelona after appearing to laugh at them… after the former goalkeeper was slammed for his reaction at the Champions League group stage draw

Oliver Kahn has responded to claims that he was mocking Barcelona after he was spotted smiling after his Bayern Munich were drawn alongside them at the Champions League draw on Thursday. 

The Bavarian club’s CEO appeared amused as the Bundesliga outfit learned their fate, which prompted an irate response from Spanish outlet Sport. 

The media mouthpiece of Barca claimed it was an ‘unusual response’ from the former Germany goalkeeper, but he has since responded to the claims. 

Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn appeared to laugh as his side were drawn against Barcelona

Catalonian outlet Sport have claimed that Kahn lacks ‘respect’ following the draw reaction

As reported by German publication BILD, Kahn has responded by saying: ‘This interpretation has come completely out of nowhere. 

Xavi’s side have only beaten Bayern twice in the Champions League

‘Robert Lewandowski left us for FC Barcelona just a few weeks ago, now the lot brings us back together in the phase of Champions League groups.

‘I smiled at such rarities of football. I have the utmost respect for Robert and FC Barcelona, ​​these matches will be a celebration for fans of both teams and football fans in general.’

In a group also containing Italian giants Inter Milan and Czech side Viktoria Plzen, the Bavarians will surely go into the competition as favourite to come out of the group on top. 

Barca are a different side to the one that limped out of the tournament and into the Europa League last season, with Lewandowski just one of several notable additions to that group. 

But the German champions have a strong Champions League record against the Blaugrana – having won eight of their 11 clashes in the competitions – including of course the infamous 8-2 drubbing in 2020. 

Bayern also beat Barcelona 3-0 both home and away during the group stages of last season’s competition.  

Robert Lewandowski is Bayern’s all-time tournament top scorer and will face his former side 

Kahn’ commented on football’s ‘rarities’ which see him face his former talisman Lewandowski

And although he was excited to begin the campaign, Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann remained cautious of his opponents, saying: ‘It is a very demanding group and full of challenges. 

‘Inter has strengthened itself again well. This is a club that has already celebrated many international successes and has regained strength in recent years. With Barcelona, ​​of course, the history with Lewy is already prescribed. 

‘I hope we can achieve results similar to those of the last few years against Barça. Plzen are the Czech champions. We can’t wait to start.’

The Champions League draw puts comparative minnows Viktoria Plzen in the ‘group of death’

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Oliver Kahn insists he has ‘the utmost respect’ for Barcelona after appearing to laugh at them

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THE Premier League’s tallest footballer turned up for a match driving one of the UK’s smallest cars.Newcastle United’s Dan Burn was pictured arr

“You’ve ruined it, man!”

Newcastle are left FURIOUS as Liverpool net a 98th-minute winner despite only FIVE minutes of added time being added at Anfield, with Magpies co-owner Mehrdad Ghodussi taking to Twitter to brand their last-gasp defeat a ‘joke’

Newcastle were left furious after they were denied a point at Anfield in the most dramatic fashion with co-owner Mehrdad Ghodussi branding the finale “a joke”.

Fabio Carvalho’s winning goal for Liverpool came in the 98th minute – three minutes after the game should have concluded – and it led to a furious scene on the touchline with coaches from both benches needing to be separated.

Television footage on BT Sport showed an object being thrown from the direction of the Newcastle bench towards Liverpool’s staff but neither Eddie Howe nor Jurgen Klopp saw anything that they could comment on.

Emotions spilled over at the end of the game following Liverpool’s late win over Newcastle 

Howe insisted Newcastle had not deliberately turned to gamesmanship to break the flow of the contest and said all stoppages were legitimate as his players were running on empty and he diplomatically tried to tread a careful line.

But Ghodussi took to Twitter and said: ‘So proud of that team, they left everything on the pitch and deserved a point. Absolute joke to end that way.’

Howe added: ‘I would need someone else to guide me (why there was so much added time). As I am sat here I had no idea. It seemed the final whistle would never come but we needed to defend the final situation better than we did. It is a cruel game.

‘Compared to the game at Anfield last year, we were in it more. We didn’t intend to drop deep, we didn’t until the latter minutes. We defended well. You have to take into account that we had a day’s less preparation. Our players emptied their tank.’

Jurgen Klopp celebrates Liverpool’s 98th minute winner in their 2-1 win over Newcastle 

Fabio Carvalho scores in the 98th minute, three minutes after the game was supposed to end 

Klopp, on the other hand, was exultant and he gave six fist pumps to The Kop amid the hullabaloo, recognising that the manner this victory was achieved was more important than the nine goals they rattled past Bournemouth last Saturday.

‘The game was just interrupted constantly for some reason and there was no chance to gain any momentum,’ said Klopp. ‘In the end I was very happy when we got that last corner and what Mo and Fabio made of it was absolutely outstanding. A Perfect moment.’

It was not all positive, however, for Klopp. Captain Jordan Henderson was substituted with a hamstring injury that could mean a lengthy lay-off. He will undergo a scan today and Klopp said he will remain on the lookout to sign a midfielder up until the deadline.

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Newcastle furious after Liverpool net injury time winner and call the end of the match a joke

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